The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-28
THE R. E. LEE MONUMENT.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE IN A
POURING RAIN
Wade Hampton and Gev. Fitz Leo Lead the
Observation-Disclosures Veterans In Line
In Their Old Tsttered Unirorms-9en.
Mahone's Excuse for staying Away.

wade Hampton and Gov. Fitz Lee Lead the
rocessisn-Couf ederato Veterans In Line
in Their Old Tattered Uniforms-Gen.
Mahone's Excuse for staying Away.
RICHMOND, Va, Oct. 27.-The day opened
gloomy and wet. Tho heavy clouds which have
overhunR the city since Sunday night and have
given an almost incessant downpour Of rain,
remained unbroken and threatening, and
Richmond's big day was ushered In with misty
rain. which fell steadily, with no indication Of
cessation. Despite this, however, the people
Of the city and many thousand visitors wero
carly on the streets. At an early hour the
sound Of martial music was heard in every
direction. and military, mounted and afoot.
could be seen moving to their various posi-
tions preparatory to the formation of the pro-
cession. Before 10 o'clock the rain had tempo
rarily ceased, but the clouds remained unbroken
and threatening. The people, however, seemed
not to notice this, but had apparently made up
their minds to carry out the programme of the
day in all details-rain or shine. Four profess
sors and flfty-nve students arrived this morn
ing from the Washington and Lee University.
Gen. r. E. Lee was. at the time OF his death,
President OF this institution. and was succeed
ed by his son. Gen. G. w. Gusts Lee. who is
now President. Owing to the recent illness Of
the latter he was unable to participate in to-
days ceremonies, but his brothers, Gen. w. II.
+. Lee, popularity known as Rooney" Lee,
and Capt. Robert Z. Lee, are here. The only
other immediate members OF tho family are
two daughters. who are at present in Europe.
At few minutes before II o'clock the pro-
cession began to move. AT the head OF tho
line, after detachments Of mounted police,
came the Chief Marshal of the day Gen. Wade
Hampton, riding side by side with Gov. Fitz
Hugh Lee. both superbly mounted. Then fol-
lowed the Governors staff in brilliant uniform
and the assistant marshals. Next, in success
eran camps. the veterans OF the Maryland line.
North Carolina artillery. and then all the
Grand ' Lodge Si Of virginia Masons two COM mn
manderies Of Knights Templar. Blue Lodge,
ties in regalia. Dense crowds packed the
aSae Fz ee had
more applause IS they rode through the city
than any other Of the prominent personages in
rins band playing Maryland, My Maryland"
also reused intense enthusiasm. One Of the
and full Of bullet holes. The Union flag was
that he'd been By the
Theme original articles" said one of the
taken place between them. All these new
United States flags you see round here is the
Some Of the old soldiers wore their dingy
and ragged Confederate uniforms in which
they, had surrendered. The Stonewall brigade
Jackson. was a popular feature. There was
probably about one full regiment of old
I'D S a sna cctnsT
mo mon I'm in 1853. Many Of them Were in Rich
CAROLINA Infantry was suspended across
undor they
ss RRsSSry an 4 Eq
ment, with al its apparatus. bringing w Tie
rear. The windows and every other available
Ied With p people mainly ladies'. who eheered
the wet processionists by waving hats and
OF
was. despite the drizzle very inspiring. The
statue Of Fame browning Lee at the ENTRANCE
veteran inmates of tho Confederate Soldiers
Home and as the head of the line approached
statue is plaster cast Of the colossal one. on
structed By John 4. Elder and ". L. sheppard,
two of Richmond's best-known artists. The
enthusiasm of these veterans of Lee Camp
Home was touching to witness as they recog-
rades in line and greeted them with the old
time Confederate yell which. If not as strong
as In former days was at least as hearty ana
was had only by tickets OF invitation, was soon
filled while many thousands stood In the mud
Marine MAJ Band e OF %asRngton played
The Star spangled Banner" Yankee
srf ses to hs
hard rain, the people held their PLACES with
amazing patience, A veteran voiced the senti-
We Vi used to follow Marse Bob in much worse
weather than this, and surely We can cheerfully
stand this to do him honor"
Gov Lee called the vast aSSemblaQo to order
and said
CITIZENS AND COMRADES: As Governor of Virginia, am
ton the action Of that association am Us Presi
history Virginia sna Il capital q n
srn sodisry duly appreciated and remembered ZAP.
81 hs Rev
Noses D, HoEo.
DR.. Moses ., Heege, WIG vas an intimate
distinct tones offered fervent prayer, in which
he thanked God for the life and example Of
rising eenerations might Initiate his virtues.
SEana St
In due and ancient FORM" and with the i'm
posing rites Of the order, proceeded to lay it.
In the name Of the Lee Monument Association,
receiyed the work from the hands OF the Grand
Master and the hone that the
OF the soldier whose memory it commemorates."
At this juncture the rain became 80 heavy
that the Governor, after consultation with
others. announced that further exercises would
he suspended, and that the poem and grafton
would be delivered tonight in the hall of the
House OF Delegates.
Malone wrote a letter to friend which he
made public this evening, giving his reason
for not attending the ceremonies He praises
Lee as one Of the grandest Of men, and says:
Tho presence at the proposed ceremonies attendant
the laying of the corner stone OF monument to
Gen. Lee at Richmond OF the most eminent and distin
guished percentages would add nothing to nor detraGt
hands which sought an ovation from the whole people
irrespective OF past existing procyities 1t is unde
niabe, and so has been observed Of all men that the
programme originally laid was intended to exclude
from participation in the eerem9nles such men
in their pretudices ! am aware that 1t
whether Gen Longsreet and myself should be invited
and that the spirit was exclude Under the pres
sure perhaps of the public discussion which followed
the invitation the question whether under such crcum
stances ought be at the proposed ceremonies nau
gurated by gentlemen who seemed inclined to cOnnne
invitations persons OF their kind promptly
solved. TO BIO welcome guest differs nothing from
unbiiden visitor To be Invited under coDstrant
forbids the idea of welcome could not and am
my old soldiers would not baye me accept such inv
ation enforced. Twill Not be present the occasion
This letter has caused much unfavorabe
comment against Malone, and his friends here
daamad IL disastrous to him that some of